Sept. 11, 2010
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By Sarah Tarasewicz
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Despite having five players register double-digit kills, the UCF volleyball team fell in a five-set heartbreaker to in-state rival Jacksonville, 3-2 (25-16, 24-26, 18-25, 25-15, 15-17), Saturday afternoon to conclude play in the Courtyard by Marriott/UCF Classic at The Venue at UCF.
"Congrats to the Jacksonville program, I know this was a very important win for them," head coach Todd Dagenais said. "They have been struggling throughout the year and we thought they found some confidence during the weekend. It was disappointing that we couldn't do anything to stop them when we needed too and we certainly had our opportunities. Their inexperienced players made some experienced plays in our match."
With the loss to the Dolphins, the Black and Gold fell to 7-2 on the year and placed third in the tournament behind Baylor, who took home the Courtyard by Marriott/UCF Classic title with a 3-0 record at the event, and Jacksonville (4-6) who finished second.
Junior Kristin Fisher (Clearwater, Fla.) and redshirt freshman Nichole Riedel (Denver, Colo.) were named to the all-tournament team for their play over the weekend. Fisher tallied 56 kills, 32 digs, four blocks and four service aces during the three-match event, while Riedel hit .414 with 28 kills and four blocks.
"We are depending an awful lot on Kristin," Dagenais said. "But, she keeps going out there and taking swings and is not afraid to take that game-point swing if need be. She is doing everything that one person can do to put us in the position to win matches. We just need more around her."
Against the Dolphins, Fisher, Riedel, Evija Vilde (Riga, Latvia), Sara Rex (Oldsmar, Fla.) and Brittanie Wallace (Austin, Texas) each put together double-digit kill performances. Fisher led the offense with a career and match-best 23 kills and added 13 digs and two block assists for her fourth double-double of the season. Riedel and Vilde added 12 kills apiece, and Rex and Wallace each totaled career-high numbers with 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
"Brittanie did a really nice job of going in there and getting us the kills that we needed," Dagenais said. "Today she was everything we thought she would be when she transferred here."
Besides posting a career-high 11 kills, Riedel also hit .550 with only one attack error and led the Black and Gold with three total blocks.
"Nicole has been working very hard during practice and we have been trying to find ways to get her into the offense," Dagenais said. "She's been working hard and its paying off in matches now. We feel like we can set her in a variety of situations and as we go forward we have to figure out more ways to get her the ball and start spreading the offense more in her direction."
Setter Rachel Vukson (Oakville, Ont.) dished out a career-best 61 assists to lead the Black and Gold offense to a .254 attack percentage against the Dolphins, while posting her first double-double as a Knight with 16 digs.
Sophomores Meredith Murphy (Austin, Texas) and Dani Harrison (Tallahassee, Fla.) also tallied double-digit digs for UCF, with Murphy totaling 16 digs and Harrison recording a career-best 15 digs.
The Knights take to the court again Sept. 17-18 in Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Chattanooga Classic. During the event, the squad will take on James Madison, the host Mocs and Belmont.
Season tickets are now available for purchase for only $30 online at UCFAthletics.com or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) UCF-1000. The Knights are set to host 13 regular-season matches at The Venue at UCF this season, which includes 10 Conference USA contests.
Courtyard by Marriott/UCF Classic All-Tournament Team
Torri Campbell - Baylor - MVP
Caitlyn Trice - Baylor
Ashlie Christenson - Baylor
Kendall Courtney - Jacksonville
Kathryn Kane - Jacksonville
Kristin Fisher - UCF
Nichole Riedel - UCF